Abstract

The antisickling properties of crude juice extracts of the edible portions of three commonly
consumed tropical fruits namely Persia americana, Citrus sinensis, and Carica papaya were
investigated in vitro alongside a new drug preparation called Ciklavit® that has antisickling activity.
Four different solvent extracts of the crude juice of each fruit including aqueous, acidic, alkaline and
alcoholic extracts were prepared and their antisickling effects on sickle cell trait (HbAS) and sickle cell
disease (HbSS) blood samples checked alongside Ciklavit®. Blood samples were stabilized using
normal saline and the antisickling effects were checked by counting the number of sickle cells
remaining after incubation of the blood samples with the crude fruit extracts and Ciklavit® for twentyfour
hours. The results showed that Ciklavit® produced a sustained reduction in the number of sickle
cells in both HbAS and HbSS blood samples. Also the alkaline and alcoholic extracts of P. americana
and C. papaya produced significant reduction in the number of sickle cells.